Nehru died due to shock of India-China war, says Mulayam Singh

In what may trigger a fresh controversy, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday said that India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru died due to 'shock' he suffered after 1962 India-China war, and not due to any disease.

"Pandit Nehru did not have any disease. In 1962, China attacked us. Our army had no arms and ammunitions, even then they fought valiantly. Pandit Nehru did not live long after the 1962 debacle. It was not any ailment, but he died due to shock he suffered that China had attacked India,'' said Yadav.

His comments came during the inauguration of the Central medicine supply depot building in UP Rural Institute of Post Graduate Medical Sciences. Pt. Nehru died on May 27, 1964. His health began declining steadily after 1962, and he spent months recuperating in Kashmir through 1963.

Some historians attribute this dramatic decline to his surprise and chagrin over the Sino-India War, which he perceived as a betrayal of trust.